The start of the third annual Fitness Challenge, sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), Children In Balance, Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA and Healthy Lives Fall River, was announced at a press event held on January 6, 2010, at the Bank Street Armory. Newly-elected Mayor Will Flanagan was on hand to encourage those who live, work or attend school in the City to take advantage of the many supports to help people lose weight and lead a healthier life. This year over fifty nursing students from the Diman School of Practical Nursing and the UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing will be assisting participants who want help in improving their health status. Nurses from Southcoast Hospital  will be on-hand on January 8th along with representatives of over twenty local agencies who can help people with health-related issues. Click here for a link to the Herald News article about the event. Click here for the article in the Spirit. Contact CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza at 508-679-0922 or Healthy City Coordinator Dave Weed at 508-324-2411 for more information.

(Top row, left and center) CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza opens the press event with a description of the achievements of past two years of the Challenge before Executive Director Grace Gerling outlines the array of fitness opportunities available at her agency and others in the City. (Top row, right) Personal trainer Amy Jones talks about what people have achieved in the first two years as YMCA Executive Director Frank Duffy, Mr. Souza, Healthy Lives coordinator Mike Ramos, and Ms. Gerling respond. (Middle row, left) Fall River School Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown commits each of the City's schools to participate in the Challenge this year as Chef Jessica Williams and the Mayor listen. (Middle row, center) Healthy City coordinator David S. Weed, Psy.D., describes the many other resources the City has developed to support healthier lifestyles. (Middle row, right) Mayor Flanagan praises the efforts of the agencies who have come together to create the Challenge as Children In Balance project director Marcia Picard and others listen before announcing the receipt of a $99,000 two-year grant from Attorney General Coakley's office to will put ten youths to work on the challenge and other nutrition programs in the city. (Bottom row) Ms. Jones takes photos of Mary Jane Afonso and Daryl Parrent who each loss a considerable amount of weight in the first two years of the challenge before pointing out their goals for participating in this year's Challenge.